Frequently Asked Questions

Air Source Heat Pumps

Do I have space for an air source heat pump?

You’ll need somewhere outside your home where a unit can be fitted to a wall or placed on the ground. It must have some space around it to allow a good flow of air.

What if I don’t have any outdoor space, or I live in a flat?

Compact heat pumps are specifically designed to heat small, well-insulated modern flats and homes. These only need a cupboard with around 80cm x 80cm floor space in the flat, and this should be near an exterior wall.

How do Air Source Heat Pumps work?

Air source heat pumps are installed outside or inside of a property, normally by the side or rear of the building or inside an enclosed unused area within a property. They absorb heat from the outside air, which is increased using a compressor, before being ready to be released into your home.

Are there different types of Air Source Heat Pumps?

There are two types of air source heat pumps, air to water and air to air. The type of heat distribution system you need will be determined by the unit that you choose. Air to water units transfer the heat by pumping liquid through pipes to radiators or underfloor heating.

The benefit of an air to water system is that it will produce hot water in addition to heat. Air to air systems generate warm air directly from the unit. This is then circulated around your home via ducting and fans.

Does my home need to be insulated before getting an Air Source Heat Pump?

When installing air source heat pumps, it is very important to make sure your property is insulated. A well-insulated building significantly reduces heat loss through walls, floors and the roof. If heat is easily escaping the building, the air source heat pump will need to work twice as hard to generate more heat to replace that what is lost.

Energy Efficient Boilers

What type of energy efficient boiler should I get?

Your hot water requirements and the size of your property determine the type of boiler you’ll need. On our initial survey, Aspire Energy will assess your exact requirements to help you select the most suitable boiler.

How much does a new boiler cost?

If you are eligible; we can install a brand-new boiler under the ECO4 or ECO Flex government grant schemes completely free of charge.

How long does the process take?

We remove your old boiler and any pipe work rendered obsolete, and then install the new one in the most suitable location. While it can vary depending on the specifics of the space, on average the process takes a few hours to complete, including clearing up afterwards.

Do I get any warranties?

All boilers have a two-year manufacturer’s guarantee. Please note that the boiler must be serviced annually for this to remain valid.

Solar PV Systems

Do solar panels need maintenance?

Solar PV systems require minimal maintenance once installed. Their reliability and energy independence will offer you a lifetime of electricity generation.

How can I use the electricity generated?

The electricity generated by your solar PV system can also be used to provide heating for your home, when used in combination with an electric boiler. If you have excess electricity that you don’t use, you can sell this back to the energy grid, making a little extra cash.

Can I increase the number of solar panels I install?

Since photovoltaic systems are modular, it is easy to expand them or, even, in some cases, transport them.

How much do solar panels cost?

Although Solar Panels can typically cost up to £10,000 to install, we install them free of charge under the ECO4 or ECO Flex government grant schemes.

What size panels would I have?

Solar PV systems can be designed for a variety of applications and operational requirements, and can therefore be adapted to your own personal situation. There are domestic system sizes as well as commercial solar panel sizes.

Cavity Wall Insulation

How do I know if my home has cavity walls?

If your home has cavity walls, the bricks will usually have an even pattern with all the bricks laid lengthways. Prior to the 1920s, most homes in the UK were built with solid walls and it wasn’t until the introduction of cavity wall insulation in the 1920s that homes began to be built with cavities.

How does cavity wall insulation help to lower my bills?

Cavity wall insulation is the process of filling the ‘gaps’ in between your walls. By filling these gaps with heat retaining insulation, heat cannot escape through your walls as easily. As you keep more heat inside your home, you won’t need turn your heating on as much, saving you money on your energy bills.

What type of cavity wall insulation do you use?

All our cavity wall installers are trained in and use Energystore Superbead. We use superbead because it has a low thermal conductivity, making it one of the best performing blown insulation products on the market.

Do I get any warranties?

All of our cavity wall installs come with a 25-year CIGA guarantee.

How much does cavity wall insulation cost?

If you are eligible for the ECO4 or ECO Flex government grant schemes, then we can install cavity wall insulation free of charge.

External Wall Insulation

How do I know if my home has solid walls?

If your home has solid walls, the bricks will have an alternating pattern, with some bricks laid across the wall so you can see the smaller ends from the outside. Prior to the 1920s, most homes in the UK were built with solid walls and it wasn’t until the introduction of cavity wall insulation in the 1920s that homes began to be built with cavities.

How much does external wall insulation cost?

External Wall Insulation can typically cost up to £12,000 to install. However, if you are eligible for the ECO4 or ECO Flex government grant schemes, the work can be carried out 100% free of charge.

How long is the install process?

Every home is different which can affect install time frames. On average, we can complete installation within 10 working days. We can give you a clearer idea of timeframes once your house has been inspected.

Do I get any warranties?

All of our exterior wall installs come with a 25-year CIGA guarantee.

How will my home look with insulation?

When the job is complete, your home will appear to have a smooth, modern finish that adds a beautifully crisp finish to your home.

All of our customers have stated that external wall insulation has improved the aesthetic quality of their homes, and they’ve noticed a considerable difference in how warm their home is.

Internal Wall Insulation

How do I know if my home has solid walls?

Should I be insulating my solid wall house internally or externally?

When you’re weighing up the pros and cons of both types of insulation, there are a few factors to consider:

If you want to keep the external appearance of your property looking the same, internal wall insulation may be more suitable.
Planning permission is required for external wall insulation (because it changes the appearance of the building), whereas in most cases internal wall insulation doesn’t. It does have to comply with building regulations however.
External insulation is less disruptive and can be installed with little inconvenience to house residents.
Internal insulation is an excellent option if you were looking to decorate anyway, as it leaves you with a smooth plasterboard finish.
If your internal floor space is already tight, internal insulation will make your rooms slightly smaller which may make external wall insulation a more attractive option.

What’s the process?

Internal wall insulation is done by fitting rigid insulation boards to the wall, or by building a stud wall filled in with insulation material such as mineral wool fibre.

Due to the thickness of the insulation, it will slightly reduce the floor area of the room(s) in which it is applied – around 100mm, and we may need to temporarily remove things like door frames.

It can also make it more complicated (though not impossible) to hang heavy items such as large picture frames.

How much does internal wall insulation cost?

Internal Wall Insulation can typically cost up to £12,000 to install. However, if you are eligible for the ECO4 or ECO Flex government grant schemes, the work can be carried out 100% free of charge.

Loft Insulation

How long does the install process take?

While it can vary depending on the size of the property, on average the process takes a few hours to complete, including clearing up afterwards.

Do I need to empty my loft first?

In order to insulate your loft space, we will need the area to be free of belongings. Please remove any items prior to the install teams arrival.

What expertise does Aspire Energy have?

All of our technicians are fully qualified and accredited. We’re available to answer any questions you may have.

Do I get any warranties?

All of our loft installs come with a 25-year CIGA guarantee.

How much does loft insulation cost?

Typically, it can cost up to £1,200 to insulate your loft space. If you are eligible for the ECO4 or ECO Flex government grant schemes, we can insulate your loft free of charge.

Room in Roof Insulation

What is room in roof insulation?

Room in roof insulation is used to insulate a loft that has been converted into a room and replaces the standard loft insulation normally seen in an unconverted space. Most of the heat lost in a property is lost through the roof, therefore room in roof insulation is essential to save energy and reduce bills. Installing room in roof insulation involves insulation boarding being fitted in between the rafters underneath the existing plasterboard walls.

What’s the process?

We install stud walls into the space, and similar over-boarding to the top of the roof, with specialised material in between and around joists to better reduce the amount of heat and energy escaping your property.

Depending on the specifics of the space, this may require removing electronics and replacing them, possibly in a different position. In the event that this is necessary, which would be identified at survey, one of our dedicated electricians will attend the property as well as the installers.

How long does it take to install?

While it can vary depending on the size of the property, on average the process takes 2-3 days to complete.

Do I get any warranties?

All of our room-in-roof installs come with a 25-year CIGA guarantee.

How much does roof insulation cost?

Typically, it can cost up to £1,200 to insulate your roof space. If you are eligible for the ECO4 or ECO Flex government grant schemes, we can insulate your loft free of charge.